too early to talk about it, as Nadal can get back to #2 after Rome. top 3 will probably make it to semis at RG, and then it's a tossup.
Hey Alex, I'm not going as far as to say Federer will down Djokovic and win the next 5 slams but I think that statement right there that you made is why some of us Fed fans still believe in our 31y.o grandpa. He might no longer be a heavy favourite to win the slams or the matches against Nadal and Djokovic, but at some level if what you said about it being a tossup is true, then things just might land in Fed's favor sometime.
Also, I don't agree with whoever said that Djokovic and Nadal have it all rough and Fed has it easy so should be able to overtake them. Djokovic and Nadal have it tougher to defend the points, especially Djokovic with wins in Rome, Wimbledon, USOpen, Toronto (?), and Finals in Cincinnati and SF in RG, but Federer doesn't exactly have it easy, he's also defending SF in Rome, Finals in RG, QF in Wimbledon and SF in USO. Now that means that to move up he pretty much needs to win those tournaments. And that's no easy feat, also keeping in mind that he's probably just as, if not more, susceptible to early-round upsets (Jo.w.tsonga at W QF last year anyone?) as Djokovic.
At their very best, Nadal is the best on clay with Federer and Djokovic tied right behind Nadal, at least against the rest of the field. At their best, all three are as good as each other on Grass, edge going to Federer and Nadal, and at their best, Djokovic is marginally more favorable on hardcourts than Federer and Nadal is almost right there. So we're talking about very close margins here and we are talking about very good competitors. Barring any freak upsets early in the grandslam level, all three of them are very very close and it is indeed a toss-up.
I think it's very exciting at the top. To regain the number 1 spot legitimately, both Federer and Nadal will probably have to win at least 2 slams. The folks best positioned to win 2 slams this year in my opinion, in order, are Djokovic, Nadal and then Federer. So I do not see Fed as the inevitable number 1. Things could very much fall in his favor if he can defend his Rome points and Djokovic defends Rome as well, making sure Nadal and himself don't have any point gains and Fed is number 2 for RG. And should the draw workout to see a Nadal vs. Djokovic semi, chances of Fed winning the French go up, and then he can definitely gain some points at Wimbledon. A combination of him winning big points and Djokovic losing points could very well see Fed back at the top. It's all a tossup here.
